The Fate of Pryde, Second in Extraordinary Psychological Suspense Trilogy by Mary E. Martin!

"Good Evening Mr. Helmsworth. Mr. Pryde would very much like to be introduced to Mr. Wainwright."
I nodded enthusiastically and hunted Alex down...
(Jamie Helmsworth is Alexander Wainwright's associate and narrator of the stories)
"Alex?" I tugged on his sleeve. "Jonathan Pryde is here and wants to speak with you."

 Alex accompanied me to the foyer. Jonathan stepped forward flanked by Fizzy and another man."
Mr. Pryde," I began rather formally. "I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Alexander Wainwright.
Alex took Pryde's hand. "Thank you for coming this evening. I understand we have business to discuss.."
Pryde smiled warmly. "It's a very great honor sir. I have admired your work for many years particularly for its visionary quality...."
"May I ask you a question, Mr. Wainwright?"
"Of course..."

Painting Selected by BRH

"The River of Remembrance is your first painting in which the human figure is the focus. How on earth did you paint such numinous figures in such a dramatic landscape?"
At first, Alexander was at a loss for words. Jonathan had touched upon the problem that had bedeviled Alex for much of his career. Why can't I paint the human figure in my landscapes with the same light emanating from within? His painting on the next wall, The Hay Wagon, had stunned the art world with the sheer beauty of its light, which promised other worlds to behold. This light came from within the landscape itself--comprised of a broken-down hay wagon in front of a dilapidated barn, behind which an old horse limped about. Then, just last year, he began to paint ugly, misshapen creatures on a beautiful landscape. The trolls, he called them. Until The River of Remembrance, Alex had been unable to create the same glorious light emanating from the human figure and for this, he suffered greatly.

Alex had not replied. Pryde looked closely at him. "Forgive me if my question is impertinent, but I sense there's been a major change in the painter of those two works of art...

Alexander paused on the top step of the National Gallery. He loved the sweep below him of Trafalgar Square with the fountains and mermaid lit up and with Nelson's Column rising ever upward into the night sky. Although he had lived most of his life in London, the city remained forever magical to him. He breated in deeply and tried to remember every detail his eye perceived from the church portico of St. Martin's in the Field far to the left and Canada House to the right.

Beyond--underneath or behind--each detail pulsed a vibrant energy, which assured him he was a part of a wonderful creation. That lovely sense was so often lost in the din of daily life, but sometimes, when he least expected it, it was there filling him with sublime joy. When he saw the world this way he knew his muse was not far off...

~~~

The Fate of Pryde:

The Second in the Trilogy of Remembrance

By Mary E. Martin

It was a routine introduction of an artist with a possible patron that begins this novel, but what Martin presents to readers is so well hidden... Reading along of normal actions within the art world may seem boring for some, tedious to others...But what that means is that you are missing the sense of mystery, the touch of the mystic and even sometimes the paranormal that surrounds this amazing merge of a fight between good and evil that will not only keep you in suspense until nearly the end but will have readers totally on edge wondering--What in the world is going on...

While the first novel certainly introduces readers to the artists' world, the main characters and a sense of how the main character, Alex Wainwright, lives--somewhat in a cocoon of aloneness where he interacts with none, other than his muse--sometimes to the detriment of some of his personal relationships. The Fate of Pryde is much darker, devious. Think Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, except that Jonathan Pride is fully aware of his actions, spending his life trying to accept and justify his two faces...

Throughout the novel, readers meet individuals who speak against Pride, mainly wondering where his money is coming from and, even more, how he's choosing to spend it.  He meets Alexander, however, in his own world--art, beauty, and his own contributions and quickly wins him as an interested participant in his next, desired project...

He wants to commission Alexander Wainwright to move into the creation of stained glass windows! Something about which he knows nothing and has never even thought of as a medium...

Alex was intrigued enough to consider the project, even to the extent of exploring how the craft was done and what materials he personally would need to use. I was intrigued, more, with why an award-winning artist would take a challenge to start anew in an entirely alien medium...

At about the same time period in the novel, Peter, Alex's friend, is involved with trying to adjust to his mother's loss of her husband and moving into a personal care facility. Alex, on the other hand, was invited to Pryde's home where he discovered that his home had also become somewhat of a personal care facility. Except that the individuals were all brilliant individuals who had been invited to Pryde's home...and wound up staying... They stayed years, still claiming they were free to leave at any time. Fortunately, Alex's own strength immediately put him on alert as he meets with other "guests" and recognizes their former fame in their professional fields...

Except readers discover that both of these facilities have a fourth floor...in which many are imprisoned.  A strange comparison between Peter's and Alex's responses may make readers sit up and take notice, especially if you have family members in this type of retirement home...

Alex accepts the commission for the windows and one by one he has visions of what he would create for the windows... One of the issues that readers will be taunted by is the whole matter of whether or not people have had visions... What role this has in questions which arise from the title of the novel is ever present as we read, but even at the end we are left wondering... Alex had had visions before, which normally led to something inspirational in his work... But was that the same for all the people who were now living in Pryde's home?

This second novel is so complex, you will need to be alert to any nuance, no matter how small an issue it might be...Clues are hung tantalizing, caught only if the reader has fully engaged and entered into the novel. If you don't you will miss a brilliantly plotted story menacingly dark--but in the midst of the natural light that comes from the main character, Wainwright, a man who seems almost like an anti-hero but shares his light through not only his artistic endeavors, but in his dignity, grace and personality.

Enter into this fantastic novel openly willing to allow it to possess you, to watch a world that contradicts anything you may believe is real...only to face our own reality at book's end...


GABixlerReviews

MARY E. MARTIN graduated in Honours History at the University of Toronto and in law at Queens University, Kingston. She practised law for thirty years in Toronto. She and her husband live in Toronto and have three adult children, one grandson and one granddaughter.

Note: This author has a high presence across the Internet and provides pics of characters, etc...Do check to find her wherever you may visit! She's bound to be there sharing!

Mary E. Martin Presents Startling, Dramatic Mystery, The Drawing Lesson...

When I saw the cover of this book on Wattpad, I immediately was drawn into the scene. Don't you love book covers that attract you enough to demand to know more!?! I immediately left a comment to ask whether the book was completed... And, as internet interactions sometimes go, it was much later that I finally connected with the author! You're right I don't often go out seeking to know about a book, but with all the trouble I've been having with computer "stuff," I just went out and bought it, only to start reading it at the same time I was finishing The Figures of Beauty, another novel taking me into the life of an artist...

There is little comparison in relation to the stories, but there is that demonstration of passion that you can not miss when you find it, whether by the author who writes the story, or by the artist about whom the story is written.

Martin does not really get into the true mystery of the book until the second half of the story. Still the early story in intriguing as you sink into the deep emotions revealed...

First, I should point out this is a trilogy, with this being the debut novel... I'm providing both the book trailer and a short author interview at this point mainly because of the pictures of the main character and his work, as well as, of course, a general overview...

I was losing any semblance of composure. “Pretty scenes? Good God, Alex, look at them. You’ve captured something no one else ever has in landscape.” 

“And what might that be?” 

I stared at him and then at the four or five canvases arranged around the room. I remembered what the docent at the Tate had said. Numinosity did shine through. She was right! In that moment, I had a tiny glimpse of what lay beyond or behind the phenomenal world. Until that moment, I had not really experienced that quality in his work. Somehow, Alex had captured the essence of the world. Was I too caught up in the details of the business—the mounting of shows, the advertising and caterers—to see how truly wonderful his work was? With a broad grin, I embraced my friend. Then holding him at arm’s length, I said, “Alex, God is in your work, just as the docent said.” 

My friend simply shrugged. “Yes, but the light has gone out, Jamie.” 

“What on earth do you mean?”

 “My muse has gone … left me in the lurch.”

“But that happens with all artists,” I began. “Inspiration always returns. Listen! Let me choose the paintings for the show. I’ll have them crated up this afternoon. All you need to do is show up on Saturday night.” 

Alex seemed to hesitate, but then he said softly, “All right. Do that for me, dear boy.” He turned and smiled bravely. “I must do my best to find her again.” 

As if dealing with the loss of a child’s imaginary friend, I said cheerfully, “I know you will find her soon. Muses always return.” 

But the sadness in his expression touched me, and I realized my glibness. “Oh dear! Alex, do you mean the mother of this child you mentioned?” 

He nodded sorrowfully. “I used to call her Maggie. I think she’s probably dead.”

~~

But this author is a woman after my own heart, she has also provided, through her blog, a short introduction, including the interesting pic of the narrator of the story, James Helmsworth.  He promptly tells about meeting Britain's Finest Landscape Painter and immediately shares one of his early paintings...

Notice the light showing...it is this feature which began his career...

More of this prequel can be found on the author's site...

“Jamie, about the retrospective of my work …” 
I sat down across from him. “Yes?”
“I can’t do it.” 
“What on earth do you mean?” 
He reached across the desk and touched my sleeve. His eyes gleamed intently. “I’m afraid I’m losing my vision!” 
Because I have heard many artists speak of their vision, I assumed that Alex was referring to his source of inspiration. I was astounded when he described his plight. “Just yesterday, I was walking along the Embankment to my studio and clouds seemed to roll in along the periphery of my vision until everything was almost entirely black. Of course, I was frightened, so I sat down on a bench a waited for it to pass, which it did within about five minutes.” 
“Has it happened again?” He shook his head. “But it did several weeks ago.”

~~~

I was intrigued with the inclusion of issues with Wainwright's vision because I never quite was sure whether it was a psychological symptom of what Alex was going through... Perhaps the author will have to explain it to me... But I found I kept dwelling on whether his insecurity of losing his eyesight and how traumatic that would be for an artist was what led to what happened... Of course, that was around the same time that he'd heard of the daughter of a former student...and a woman he came to love very much...and  his muse... Was it his child? He knew that during his time with Maggie, it had been the best period in his drawing...

Because Wainwright certainly went through a period of turmoil that only served to entice readers to discover what was happening. At a showing, another short-listed conceptual artist, Rinaldo, began to criticize that Alex's work was outdated.  That was the first moment of doubt for Wainwright, sown by an enemy that he never really recognized...

The major event, however, was just after it was announced that he'd won the prestigious award... for his painting, The Hay Wagon. I picked an illustrative painting by Sharon Hodges...because Wainwright's picture was painted over by this man! Rinaldo had entered the contest also. He proclaimed that Wainwright was old-fashioned, painting what no longer existed in the world... Rinaldo did not use canvases for his work...

But for some reason, known only to Alex, he followed Rinaldo out of that event and went on to establish some semblance of a relationship... It was not very long that Alex changed his work...

From the man who had been named the finest landscape artist in Britain, additions were added now...under a bush, beside a tree...wherever they might be somewhat hidden... ugly little trolls!

The influence of a muse is explored quite often. Having lost Maggie, Alex had both served as a muse and found one in characters Peter and Daphne. The intimacy and intellectual stimulation of such an individual had never been more clearly illustrated for me than in this novel... It seems to be much more than what we call a mentor, but can or cannot involve a sexual connection. With Maggie he had also fallen in love... His relationship with Peter and Daphne are significantly different... These interactions make for a hidden depth to the role Alex had previously played and what was happening to him at this point.

The intense drama soon begins as Alex's friends are reacting to the addition of trolls. The breaks with Peter and Daphne haunts him but not having a muse is the worst part... For some reason, it appears Rinaldo is fulfilling some part of that need as Alex is both repelled and enticed to interact with him more...

And then the worst happened... he had gone to an area where he could paint and stay for a short time... And he meets both an old couple who are very much in love even through a strange tragedy, and a young girl who is so enclosed within herself, that he feels a great sympathy for all of them... Alex is realizing, for  perhaps the first time in his life, that his work has separated him from others... But when he reaches out...

Readers will indeed be committed to trying to solve where this story will end. I don't think of it as the routine mystery, however. There is no crime to be solved... Except by one jealous artist of another... Jealousy is not normally a crime, thankfully, but Rinaldo is behaving more and more strangely as he tries to entice Alex to collaborate with him...

A truly mesmerizing psychological drama that, at one point, made me so fearful I didn't want to read on...  Kudos to the author! It was not the intent of the author to dwell on the actual artistic activities, but rather on the effect of that passion on the personal life of those artists. A very successful endeavor in my opinion... Highly recommended...


GABixlerReviews

MARY E. MARTIN is the award-winning author of The Osgoode Trilogy--Conduct in Question, Final Paradox and A Trial of One--about murder and fraud, love and forgiveness in the world of the law. Meet attorney Harry Jenkins.
AND
The Trilogy of Remembrance about artists and revelations in the glitter and shadows of the art world. Meet Britain's finest landscape artist, Alexander Wainwright.

The books in The Osgoode Trilogy are legal suspense novels, inspired by her many years of law practice in Toronto, Canada. The protagonist lawyer, Harry Jenkins, while unraveling murder and fraud, finds along the way, love, compassion and understanding. She writes with the sure knowledge of an insider and creates a rich tapestry of characters and fast paced plots.

Upon completion of The Osgoode Trilogy, she began The Trilogy of Remembrance and created an entirely different world--of art and artists. The Drawing Lesson, which won Honorable Mention in the New York Festival of Books, is the first novel and The Fate of Pryde is the second. Alexander Wainwright, the protagonist of the trilogy, is a painter whose magical light enchants viewers with visions of the beyond. He travels throughout the world in constant search of his muse seeking answers to the big questions. But It's the journey that counts.

In September 2014 the third in The Trilogy of Remembrance, Night Crossing, will be published. In that story, Alexander will be faced with the question: must a creative spirit choose between his art and true love.

After writing, art and photography are her greatest passions. Currently, she is exploring the world of cyberspace as a place to tell story. "Why," she asks, "should a character be confined to the pages of a novel?" Alexander Wainwright is blogging, interviewing other artists and combining the written word and visual image on the web.

This means lots of blog-sized stories are coming free to you and some are already there. The Devil of Chateau Noir

Sign up for her blog at http://maryemartintrilogies.com
...which she frequently shares with Alexander Wainwright

AND visit Alexander on his Facebook page Alexander Wainwright-A Character of The Trilogy of Remembrance. Please consider liking his page as it would mean ever so much to him.
AND visit the Facebook page for The Trilogy of Remembrance. It loves "likes" too!

MARY E. MARTIN graduated in Honours History at the University of Toronto and in law at Queens University, Kingston. She practised law for thirty years in Toronto. She and her husband live in Toronto and have three adult children, one grandson and one granddaughter.